During yesterday’s meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Committee in which elected officials from the Henderson City Council and the Vance County Board of Commissioners communicate directly with another, the county requested a decision on water sales from the Kerr Lake Regional Water System for its fledgling county-wide water system by April 12, 2010.
County Commissioner Terry Garrison spearheaded the county’s effort to pin the city down to making an offer on the rate.
Initially, City Manager Ray Griffin told county members that he was not sure that the city was ready to negotiate until consensus was achieved by the smaller group that has been involved in discussions on the proposed water sale.
It is not known when or by whom these discussions have taken place.
Garrison responded that the county commission would prefer an offer from the city to which the commission could respond.
“We’re pressed for time,” Garrison said.
Although Garrison originally asked for a response by April 5, it was decided that an April 12 deadline would give the city council two meetings rather than one to deliberate on the issue.
City Manager Ray Griffin asked the county to confirm the capacity they would require, and to confirm whether or not they would seek a 40-year commitment.
County Manager Jerry Ayscue could not give a numerical estimate of the amount of water the county would require, but said he would confirm the amount at a later time.